How much does a service unit operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $27.96 an hour or $4,847 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.96
- Average (mean)
- $62,470
- Jobs
- 43,140
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,940 | $18.72 | |
| 25th | $47,480 | $22.83 | |
| Median | $58,160 | $27.96 | |
| 75th | $73,230 | $35.21 | |
| 90th | $97,560 | $46.90 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Alaska | $106,500 |
| Missouri | $90,580 |
| Montana | $77,750 |
| New Mexico | $64,990 |
| Nebraska | $62,990 |
| California | $62,580 |
| Wyoming | $62,560 |
| Florida | $62,050 |
| Ohio | $61,260 |
| North Dakota | $60,810 |
| Louisiana | $60,760 |
| Colorado | $60,290 |
| Indiana | $56,980 |
| Oklahoma | $56,680 |
| Utah | $56,290 |
| West Virginia | $56,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,780 |
| Michigan | $52,000 |
| South Dakota | $49,920 |
| Texas | $49,820 |
| Mississippi | $49,610 |
| Alabama | $49,490 |
| Arkansas | $48,120 |
| Kansas | $46,230 |
| New York | $45,750 |
| Illinois | $41,680 |
| Kentucky | $28,280 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Anchorage, AK | $95,370 |
| St. Louis, MO | $91,890 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $81,590 |
| Oxnard, CA | $76,980 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $66,550 |
| Denver, CO | $66,220 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $65,140 |
| Casper, WY | $64,680 |
| Farmington, NM | $64,500 |
| Houma, LA | $62,260 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $62,170 |
| Tulsa, OK | $62,110 |
| Wheeling, WV | $61,570 |
| Williamsport, PA | $61,280 |
| Dallas, TX | $60,870 |
In other countries
Service Unit Operator belongs to the international group "Well drillers and borers and related workers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Derrick Operator$58,620
- Rotary Drill Operator$67,890
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator$57,430
- Earth Driller$60,190
- Explosives Worker$61,390
- Continuous Mining Machine Operator$61,810
- Roof Bolter$78,540
- Loading and Moving Machine Operator$74,500
- Underground Mining Machine Operator$70,130
- Rock Splitter$48,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a service unit operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $27.96 ($58,160 a year).
How much does a service unit operator make a month?
About $4,847 a month before tax, based on a median of $58,160 a year.
How much does a service unit operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,940 or less a year ($18.72 an hour); the top 10% make $97,560 or more.
Which state pays service unit operators the most?
Alaska, with a median of $106,500 a year, followed by Missouri ($90,580) and Montana ($77,750).
Which city pays service unit operators the most?
Anchorage, AK, with a median of $95,370 a year.
How many service unit operators are there in the United States?
About 43,140 people work as service unit operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.